TUES UPDATE: Tons more on Savage, Kharma update, Punk/Bret, new WWE office, more

Tuesday, 24 May 2011 11:49

By Bryan Alvarez

Bryan Alvarez:
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Dave Meltzer:
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We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's WWE Over the Limit PPV, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to
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Smackdown and NXT will be taped in Spokane, WA, tonight. Randy Orton vs. Christian is the advertised dark match.

We're also looking for reports on Saturday night's TNA show in Plattsburgh, NY and today's TNA show in Massena, NY.

A look at what happened to Brock Lesnar and his future is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also look at what will be one of the biggest long-term stories of 2010, which is the future of UFC on television after the current deal with Spike expires at the end of this year. We also look at TNA's new slogan, the Sacrifice PPV and a first-time ever match.

The issue is up on the site right now. A new back issue from early 1994 was put up earlier in the week and another will be up in a few days. Between the Observer and Figure Four Weekly, we have about 14 issues put up every month and dozens of new audio shows for web site subscribers including coverage after the shows of every major pro wrestling and MMA event.

You can also order print copies of the Observer with details below.

Our lead story looks at Brock Lesnar's illness, with Lesnar talking about what went down, how Shane Carwin vs. Junior Dos Santos changes things both in the cage and for business, handicapping the fight, looking at the UFC's injury issues that have seen one main event after another go down the tubes. We look at Lesnar over the past year coming back from diverticulitis.

We also look at the future of UFC on television, including what is rumored to be the company's new destination, Dana White talks about the talks, thoughts on business strategy, and what moves Spike could make if they lost UFC.

We also look at the issues at TNA, the top stars, the Impact name, and what bad thing Sacrifice told TNA about its most loyal fan base. We also have full coverage of Sacrifice with a match-by-match rundown with star ratings, issues with the show, and poll results on the show.

We also look at the unveiling of a national postage stamp commemorating one of the biggest stars in wrestling of the past 40 years.

We also look at a world record WWE is talking about gunning for, perhaps at next year's WrestleMania, update on "Fast Five" business, Chris Jericho's return, KENTA talks C.M. Punk, Unique booking for a home town heel, anniversary of a famous Raw match, a WWE PPV name change and why and WWE call-ups and cuts.

We also run down the closing episodes of Tough Enough, a story about Bret Hart's last match as well as business notes on both the U.S. shows of the past week, as well as the tour of Mexico, with rundowns of the matches.

We've got ratings of all the national shows including how every segment on Raw and Impact did and what viewers came and left.

We also have our usual weekly features with results of the major arena shows from around the world, and the major TV show rundowns and reviews.

The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.

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-- Sorry this is up late. Been a ridiculously busy few days. Figure Four Weekly will be up late tonight and the Observer will probably be delayed a day due to coverage of the Randy Savage death. I'm also doing three radio shows today and three radio shows tomorrow before we head off to Las Vegas for the UFC/F4W Convention weekend. If you are interested in meeting up with us (over 60 showing up so far), all the info is up here.

-- Ryan writes: I was surprised when I went to ESPN.com @ 3:45pm today (Tuesday) and
saw a giant pic and story on Macho Man. Talk about transcending
wrestling.

-- The Kharma deal last night was her blow-off for the time being. It is believed she'll be out for over nine months.

-- Ewan writes: Greetings from Glasgow Scotland (where trust me the weather is worse than Seatle) Just listening to the latest observer radio and heard the confusion on why Punk took a right hand and a sharpshooter from Bret. Now this may just be me reading way to much into things and giving CM Punk to much credit, I'm willing to accept that. I feel they under-played this probably due to the shortness of the match but i felt that Punk was taunting Bret throughout his offence by using Brets offence. I remember a side-russian leg sweep with Punk laughing at Bret, I also remember the classic Hitman middle rope elbow whilst taunting Bret and a smile at Bret as he teased the sharpshooter. Unfortunatly I think this all happened in a minute and was thus lost in the jumble of a RAW Main Event where everyones gotta get thier shit in and it wasn't made hugely clear what Punk was doing as none of the commentators had been clued in.

-- WWE announced today that they've opened up an office in India, spearheaded by GM Rukn Kizilbash. The office, located in Mumbai, opens June 1st.

-- The next EVOLVE event will be on July 26th in Manhattan, NY at BB King Blues Club & Grill. Tickets are now on sale at www.EVOLVEwrestling.com or by calling 267-519-9744.

-- The "EVOLVE 8: Style Battle" iPPV is now available at www.WWNLive.com on demand. You can watch it anytime. It will be on demand to watch as many times as you want until the DVD comes out, which will be at least 6-8 weeks.

-- Speaking of EVOLVE, Johnny Gargano was our guest on the show today and he was quite great. Lots of fun stories.

-- Dewey's Pizza, a regional pizza chain here in Cincinnati, has a new seasonal pizza called the "Tito Santana". Thanks to Adam.

-- Affliction Clothing will celebrate the opening of their newest retail location located at their world headquarters in Seal Beach, CA, on Saturday, June 4, at 1PM with live music from Black Cloud Collective led by Atreyu’s Brandon Saller, a hot rod show hosted by Affliction and an art exhibition by Thy Will Be Done. The party will be held at the new retail store located at 1799 Apollo Court, Seal Beach, CA. The five-thousand square-foot facility is be the largest of the Affliction retail stores and offers the entire Affliction family of brands, including Remetee, Sinful, Affliction Black Premium, and its newest collection, Affliction’s American Customs.

-- Great Canadian Wrestling (GCW) returns to the Legion in Oshawa Thursday, May 26, 2011 with the 5th presentation of their annual Battleground show. Every year this event sees titles on the line, feuds brought to a head and the fans of GCW treated to spectacular wrestling action.